Faith leaders in Minnesota advocate for marriage equality

Today, 340 faith leaders including Task Force Faith Work Director Rev. Rebecca Voelkel sent a letter urging the Minnesota Legislature to support the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in 2013. The letter states, in part:

We are clergy and faith leaders representing diverse communities across Minnesota. Though we come from different faith backgrounds, we share in common a belief in the inherent dignity of all people. We advocate for justice and fairness and work for the common good. Our various religious traditions teach us to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves. We are therefore united in declaring our support of marriage for all loving and committed couples.

Marriage equality legislation that would give same-sex couples the freedom to marry in Minnesota was introduced last week. This historic and bipartisan legislation ensures that same-sex couples are treated equally under the law, and also protects important religious freedoms to ensure that no church, religious association or clergy member is ever forced to violate their deeply held religious convictions.

The Task Force invested significantly in the work of Minnesotans United for All Families during the campaign to reject the constitutional amendment that sought to ban the freedom to marry for same-sex couples last year. Now the Task Force is invested in winning marriage equality in the state, including serving on the board of Minnesotans United for All Families since its inception, dedicating our Faith Organizing Manager to working full-time on the ground in Minnesota and organizing “Conversations with People You Know” trainings, in which thousands of people of faith have been trained and had conversations with other people of faith about the need for equality.